{"id":41355,"date":"2025-07-31T15:31:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T22:31:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/?p=41355"},"modified":"2025-08-03T10:30:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T17:30:08","slug":"068b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/068b\/","title":{"rendered":"50th Anniversary Exhibition, Osaka"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The first round of the Yamato<\/em> 50th Anniversary Exhibition was a smash success in Tokyo, and reopened in Osaka from July 19 to August 3. As before, cameras were given all-area access, so fans shared what they saw generously online. Presented here is a photo walk-through of the event space and surrounding points of interest.<\/p>\n

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Produced by author\/director\/superfan Hideaki Anno, the first round of the Yamato<\/em> 50th Anniversary Complete Records Exhibition was a smash success in Tokyo, with record ticket sales from March 15-31. Shortly after it closed, the second round was announced for a venue in Osaka from July 19 to August 3. As before, cameras were given all-area access, so fans shared what they saw generously online.<\/p>\n

Presented here is a photo walk-through of the event space and surrounding points of interest. Massive thanks go out to all the photographers. See their posts on Twitter via these hashtags: \u30e4\u30de\u30c8\u5c55\u5927\u962a<\/a> | \u5168\u8a18\u9332\u5c55<\/a> | \u30e4\u30de\u30c850\u5468\u5e74<\/a><\/p>\n

For closeups of the production materials, see the photo galleries from the Tokyo event here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

See a video walkthrough here<\/a> | See a Japanese photoblog here<\/a> | See a TV commercial for the exhibition here<\/a><\/p>\n

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The pre-show started on July 7 when promotion began at the venue, Nankai Namba Station in Osaka’s Namba district. Nankai is the train line served by the station, which itself serves as a shopping center with a convention hall named Skyo. As commuters marched through the station’s ground floor on the 7th, they were greeted by Yamato<\/em> characters telling them to meet up at Skyo on the 19th.<\/p>\n

See a photo gallery of these and other promotions here<\/a><\/p>\n

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On opening day, the morning edition of the Sankei Shimbun [newspaper] ran a full-page ad reproducing the main promo image. The banner at right reads, The Pinnacle of Japanese Anime is Here.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Skyo convention hall is located on an 7th floor of the station complex. A large banner near the escalator let you know you were heading in the right direction.<\/p>\n

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The first sight that greeted visitors was the entry to the convention hall (photo taken on the final day, after closing).
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Kodai and Yuki were there to welcome you. This was a popular photo-spot for everyone, but it was actually the exit of the exhibit. The entrance was still some distance away.<\/p>\n

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Starsha was nearby to help guide you toward it, which was around the corner.<\/p>\n

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Yuki and Dessler reminded you to turn back for a bio-break if necessary. Yuki: “Please finish up in the restroom first.” Dessler: “Gentlemen, do the important things first.” This serves as your periodic reminder that Yamato<\/em> fandom is aging.<\/p>\n

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With that business out of the way, visitors would walk down this long hallway toward the exhibit entrance at the far end. Along the way, there were four “mood boards” to help you immerse yourself.<\/p>\n

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\nThe year is 2199. Earth now approaches its final moments. Since the beginning of the 21st century, a mysterious space fleet has been steadily invading, and has finally reached the outer solar system. They continue to launch indiscriminate attacks on Earth using Planet Bombs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe Earthlings built underground cities and desperately tried to survive, but despite the Earth Defense Force’s best efforts, the mysterious space fleet is overwhelmingly powerful. They have launched merciless attacks, demanding either the extermination or enslavement of Earthlings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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\nFor the Earth Defense Force, which is gradually losing its fighting power, their last hope was the Earth Defense Fleet against the attack of a powerful and mysterious space fleet. The Earth Defense Fleet is now on the verge of destruction.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nRadioactive contamination caused by Planet Bombs steadily spreads not only across Earth’s surface, but also underground. There is no longer any healthy land on Earth. Will humanity simply wait for its extinction? Is there no hope for tomorrow?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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The layout of the Osaka exhibition was very different from Tokyo, set up in a larger space with more elbow room, but all the major sections were the same. Starting with early development, you could follow a path that took you through every episode chronologically, ending with an overview of Yamato<\/em> history up to the present day.<\/p>\n

In Tokyo, the history section was split off in a different area of the department store hosting the event. Here, it was all in a single room.<\/p>\n

Several display cases (which also appeared in Tokyo) were spread out as follows:<\/p>\n

\nA) Early development materials
\nB) 1974 Presentation book
\nC) Episode 1 production materials
\nD) Sound effects station
\nE) Voice actor station<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nF) Manga publishing
\nG) Episode 26 production materials
\nH) ATAC display
\nI) Merchandising samples
\nJ) Contemorary model kits<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Your view upon entering. Hideaki Anno’s greeting is on the left.<\/p>\n

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Entry point for “The Birth” section. Center and right: colorful decor to liven up a blank wall<\/p>\n

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After “The Birth,” the next section was “Take Off,” covering the first five episodes. The exit from “The Birth” is at left. Next to it was a new gallery of color background art.<\/p>\n

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View from within the “Take Off” section with Episode 1 covering two walls (flowing right to left).<\/p>\n

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Display case in the “Take Off” section with production materials for Episode 1.<\/p>\n

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The color background art came from various episodes. These were not originals, but they still got the job done.<\/p>\n

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After “Take Off,” you’d round a wall to find the “Trial” section, which covered Episodes 6-15.<\/p>\n

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Parked here was the famous “Precision Cut Model,” created for movie promotion in 1978 and still as sharp as ever.<\/p>\n

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See a photo gallery of this spectacular model here<\/a><\/p>\n

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On the far end of this space, “Trial” gave way to “Fierce Battle,” covering Episodes 16-22. At left was another display case…<\/p>\n

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…spotlighting the various manga releases from 1974\/75.<\/p>\n

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As before, it showcased original artwork by Yuki Hijiri, whose version was finally collected into book form this year. It was due to be published on the 28th, but advance copies could be purchased here if you knew where to find them. (Keep reading.)<\/p>\n

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Right in the middle of this space was a 2-sided display with the sound effects station on one side and the actors station (with various scripts) on the other.<\/p>\n

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“Fierce Battle” ended with the massive fleet battle episodes (against black). The next section over (to the left) was titled “To Victory” and covered Episodes 23-26. The TV monitor looped the final scenes of the last episode.<\/p>\n

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The end of Episode 26 brought you to these two panels, one of which was a credit list for the TV series.<\/p>\n

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You’d walk between these two panels to find the history section. The first thing that caught your eye was the merchandise display.<\/p>\n

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This setup was similar to the one in Tokyo, but since some items were provided by private collectors, they didn’t all travel to Osaka. Instead, a few new ones turned up in their place.<\/p>\n

See a photo gallery here<\/a><\/p>\n

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Just around the wall from the “To Victory” section was a display for ATAC [Anime Tokusatsu Archive Centre], which curated the entire exhibit and gave information about how to lend your support.<\/p>\n

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The 1\/100 Yamato<\/em> display model, which appears in many theaters for the remake premieres, occupied the center of the history section. In this photo, the merchandising case is in the background.<\/p>\n

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On the model’s starboard side could be found the “music wall” with a comprehensive discography.<\/p>\n

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On the model’s port side was the “history wall” with a timeline of all the major events from 1974 to today.<\/p>\n

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At the far end of the history wall, Captain Okita was waiting for you.<\/p>\n

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This photo-op was filled with Okita’s famous lines from Series 1. On the other side of this wall was the remake section.<\/p>\n

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Since the Tokyo Exhibition, it had been updated to promote REBEL 3199<\/em> Chapter 4. This is where the exhibition ended, though another display case (not shown) featured the latest Bandai model kits.<\/p>\n

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The last stop was the exhibition store. Domel REALLY wanted you to know that there was no going back from here.<\/p>\n

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The store contained, by far, the largest selection of Yamato<\/em> merchandise seen in one place, at least since the early years.<\/p>\n

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Many of these items had been promoted online starting in June (see them here<\/a>), but that was limited to products created by the exhibition itself. Since then, other venders hopped on with their own goods.<\/p>\n

See a photo gallery here<\/a><\/p>\n

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“All hands, I wish to say something. Thank you. That is all.”<\/p>\n

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Leaving the store brought you back to where you started, now with a farewell from Kodai and Yuki. (Exit doors on either side.)<\/p>\n

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Nearby could be found the “message wall,” which started out blank every morning and filled up throughout the day.<\/p>\n

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Markers and sticky-notes were provided for all visitors to leave their words behind.<\/p>\n

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At the end of each day, it was someone’s job to clear them all off (hopefully preserving them in some way) to reset for the next morning.<\/p>\n

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That would have been especially daunting on the final day (August 3), when attendance spiked.<\/p>\n

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Another display brought in from Tokyo showed off the two autograph boards with signatures and sketches from industry pros, many of whom worked on Yamato<\/em> in one way or another. An Osaka version of these was already gathering new signatures.<\/p>\n

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An Osaka version also existed, but the scarcity of signatures was a symbol of the lower density of industry people outside Tokyo.<\/p>\n

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If your stomach was talking to you after that experience, there was not just one, but THREE options for local eateries (all inside Nankai Nambu Station) with Yamato<\/em> collaboration menus.<\/p>\n

What did they offer? See a photo gallery here<\/a><\/p>\n

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For many, the day was not complete without one more side quest: the Asahiya bookstore (also in the station), which had a few things to offer – and a window display to command your attention.<\/p>\n

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You knew you were in the right place when this “Commemorative Fair” sign appeared in your path.<\/p>\n

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Not to mention Sanada himself luring you in for the good stuff.<\/p>\n

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At one end of the Yamato<\/em> table you could find complete runs of the Locke the Superman<\/em> manga by Yuki Hijiri. Which was a nice tie in with…(drum roll)…<\/p>\n

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Advance copies of the Yuki Hijiri Yamato<\/em> manga collection, available for purchase over a week ahead of everywhere else.<\/p>\n

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Next to this was a promotion for Junichiro Tamamori’s forthcoming Yamato Mechanics<\/em> (Sept 30), recent books from various sources, and the classic manga by Leiji Matsumoto.<\/p>\n

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In the latter part of the tenure, some new artifacts were added to the table: someone’s 1\/700 cutaway model and an original sketch by Junichiro Tamamori (drawn on preview night).<\/p>\n

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The other side of this table had more to offer, a lineup of books published by Hideaki Anno’s Studio Khara, from which the entire exhibition originated.<\/p>\n

For some fans, this was still not enough. Many returned to the exhibition for another look during its 15-day tenure. And if it opens again somewhere else, they’ll probably turn up there, too.<\/p>\n

<\/br> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles-1984-now"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41355"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41401,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41355\/revisions\/41401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ourstarblazers.com\/vault\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}